Children and teenagers are at special risk from frequent mobile phone usage, a report from Russia has warned. Scientists there are concerned that EMF radiation levels from the phones do not take account of children’s greater sensitivity and physiology.
As a result, children could suffer from a range of short-term problems, such as learning difficulties, sleep problems, and memory loss.
But scientists from the Russian National Committee on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection are especially concerned about the long-term effects, which they fear could include brain tumours, depression and Alzheimer’s disease, with some of these problems occurring in people as young as 25 years.
The committee is appealing to governments and manufacturers to consider either restricting the amount of time children spend on mobile phones, or develop new and safer technology that takes account of children’s developing brains.
(Source: Russian National Committee on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection report, issued April 14, 2008, via EMFacts Consultancy, www.emfacts.com/weblog/?p=885)